Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-06-17
MINNESOTA BUSINESS MEN.

in Convention at Kankato they Authorize . Com
mittee to Prosecute Railroads for Proven Vic.
.@.f lations ofthe Law. : I'll
The Resolutions Demand the Absolute and I'm.
partial Enforcement Of the Interstate Conn
~. merce Act. 4 :, w. r; .$s 2
The convention consisting Of delegates
fron;inost Of the leading cities and towns
OF central and southern Minnesota, includ-
ing st. Pauland Minneapolis, was in session
two days later at Mankato. The dele.
gates were welcomed by Major Plan and
John E. Noe Of the Mankato Board OF
Trade. Responses were made by F. Per-
kins OF Faribault and W. B. Dean. w. B..
Dean OF St. Paul responded on behalf of
the state board of trades, represented in
the meetings. Senator Pope explained
the object OF the organization, etc.
After an animated debate on the status
OF St. Paul and Minneapolis delegates, who
were unanimously admitted. Hon: Knute
Nelson, NJ. c., delivered an address OF
great length. He ;nterpolated his address
with continued structures OF St. Paul and
Minneapolis as to their st anding on the
interstate law to the rest OF the state. AL
most every point made was also receiv
ed with applause. He was ans wered
by w. 8. Dean OF St. Paul. The dis
cussion OF the evening was practically n
debate between Mr.. Dean for St. Paul and
the delegates from the interior towns.
Congressman Lind asked Mr.. Dean if he
and the St. Paul business men would help
prople here to receive the same rate per
ton per mile from Duluth and St. Paul
now gets. Mr.. Dean said that they would,
but that the railroad commissioners were
empowered to do that.
The railroad commissioners declined to
take part in the discussion. They were
there only rs spectators and to gain
knowledge. They did not consider it pru-
dent to act hastily on the intricate ques-
tons before them
Mr.. Childs OF Waseca introduced reso.
luton empowering the executive committee
OF the association to estigate all VIOLA
tions OF the railroad law, and when they
were proven SO to employ counsel and
bring suit in the courts against the roads
offending.
Mr.. Child's resolution was adopted unani
mousiy, and the executive committee
invested with authority to commence suits
at the proper time, which is LETT to their
discretion. Senator Pope said that he did
not think that the executive committee
intended to bring any immediate suits,
but that the action OF the convention had
solely been to empower them to do SO when
necessary.
FORMAL DECLARATIONS.
The resolutions OF the association were
presented by Senator Bowen as follows:
Whereas, The system OF transportation
heretofore practiced by common carriers
is built upon an unnatural basis, favor
ing a few localities with low rates OF trans
portation and imposing a proportionate
high rate upon other localities and, where
AS such IL system is destructive OF that
general distribution OF veal tn and prosper
ity which should characteriz a common.
wealth founded on the equal rights and
privileges OF 81 free people; and whereas all
common carriers should be bound TO re-
speet the rights OF the public without dis
tinction OF persons or localities, therefore
Resolved, That we, the Business Men s
Association Of Minnesota, demand a radi-
cal reform in the system OF railroad trans
portatlon heretofore practiced. We declare
that the only natural and proper System
is system which knows no favoritism
and grants no special privileges to any
persons or localities. That rates OF trans.
portation should be based pro rata upon
distance and amount OF property trans
ported, and without reference whatever to
terminal points or iobbinc centers. No To-
cality should be recognized by special
transportation rates as the commercial
property OF any jobbing or manufacturing
center.
Resolved, That we are in favor OF an
absolute enforcement oi the Interstate
commerce law and the state law regulating
common carriers. and that we are EN-.
phatically opposed to any suspension OF
the section generally. known as the long
and sb ort haul clause.
Resolved, That we respectfully call the
attention OF the railway warehouse COM
mission OF this state to the freedom OF
traffic law. and ask that said commission
in reviewing the schedule Of rates adjusted
and published by the several lines OF roads
which connect with other lines leading to
Duluth, see to it that such lines of road
comply with said law, and that no unreal
sonablc or unjust transfer charges be al
lowed, to the end that the people OF Mime
sofa be not defrauded Of their rights, or
excluded from the markets OF Lake Superb
or ny unjust arrangements between con-
Meeting lines OF road.
Resolved, That Lake, Superior, to the north
and east Of us. and the Mississippi river, lead
ing south. are natures great highways, and
that any law or discrimination, or suspen.
sion oflaw, or any CON bination OF capital
lists, localities or politicians, which shall
attempt to deprive the inland towns and
cities OF our state Of untranpcled access to
these waterways. upon reasonable terms
and without unjust discrimination, will
meet with severe condemnatio at our
hands
|. Resolved, That the proper basis for fix
ing charges for the transportation OF per.
sons and property over the railroads of the
country should be such an income as will
pay, above operating expenses, q reason
able interest on the actual cost Of the road
and it's rolling stock; and that whenever
the income OF any road shall amount to
more than this, there should be q reduction
Of rates for such transportation; and that
all charges for the production ofdividends.
or for paying interest on ''watered stock, y
or for influencing legislation, amount to
extortion. When railroads impose upon
the toiling masses and business interests
OF the country a burden OF taxation
amounting to millions OF dollars for the
purpose OF paying dividends on fictitious
capital they become the masters and not
the servants OF the people: and such an
evil and exercise OF unwarranted power
should not be allowed to exist an instant
longer than is necessary for it's prompt
abolition. We call upon the railroad
commissioners to assist in the investiga.
tion OF this matter, so that reliable es-
innate may be established of the actual
capital invested in the railroads OF the
country. =. ~ ~-.
Resolved, That we recognize st. Paul and
Minneapolis and Dnluth as points at which,
with just and reasonable privileges, the
business interests OF this almost limitIess
empire will naturally center, and Duluth
as the port at which land transportation
should cease of all commodities seeking
transportation oyerthe ways Of the world;
that the establishment OF rates OF freight
by railroad companies SO exhorbitant as
to prohibit transportation over natural
channels to these localities and compelling
them to seek an outlet hundreds OF miles
away at a distant lake port is
a crime against the people. and we demand
aa a. riyhf a ri1id endorsements hv the